A Wheel of Fortune contestant came tantalizingly close to a major payday, only to lose the chance to drive home a new BMW after failing to solve the Bonus Round puzzle. The Brooklyn teacher’s frustrated reaction drew laughter from host Ryan Seacrest and the studio audience, capping off an episode that featured a new twist allowing players to claim their opponents’ winnings.
Lloyd Saunders, a physical education teacher from Brooklyn, New York, competed against Pete Lukach of Deptford, New Jersey, and Robin Stinnett of Livingston, Michigan, on the October 19 episode.
The episode was part of the show’s Hitting It Rich week, which introduced a special coin that could dramatically change the competition. Contestants who landed on the designated wedge and solved their puzzle could claim not only their own accumulated winnings but also the money and prizes in their opponents’ banks, including wedges and Wild Cards.
Saunders managed to take advantage of the new rule, putting himself in a strong position heading into the Bonus Round. However, his final puzzle proved to be a different challenge altogether.
A New Twist Changes the Game
The competition began with Lukach, a retired educator who had spent 35 years in the profession, building an early lead. He solved two Fortune Frenzies, earning $2,000, before cracking the opening puzzle, “Breaking a Sweat,” after guessing just three letters. That brought his total to $4,500.
Lukach also made progress on a “Before & After” puzzle but landed on “Lose a Turn,” handing the game back to Saunders.
That was when Saunders found his opportunity. Holding the HIR coin, he solved “Word Search Party” and collected $8,500 along with a Wild Card by claiming the other contestants’ banks.
The advantage did not last unchallenged. Stinnett, an enthusiastic Stevie Wonder fan, solved “Living The Good Life” with only two letters left to uncover. Her victory earned her a trip to Portugal and Spain, bringing her total winnings to $15,598.
Both Saunders and Lukach subsequently solved a Triple Toss-Up puzzle. However, time ran out before anyone could solve the third phrase, “Flying Lessons.”
Saunders recovered by solving the final puzzle, “Doubling Down,” finishing the main game with $16,200 and taking the lead.
When the round ended, Stinnett had $15,598, while Lukach finished with $6,500.
The Bonus Round Costs Saunders a BMW
With the lead secured, Saunders advanced to the Bonus Round and selected “Event” as his category.
He received the standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E, then used his Wild Card to add G, H, C, I and K.
The remaining puzzle appeared as “RI _TE _ _SH.” As the countdown ticked away, Saunders tried “Crusty Fish” and “Cristy Fish,” but neither guess was correct.
The answer was “Private Bash.”
Despite his strong performance throughout the game, Saunders failed to solve the puzzle and missed out on the BMW that was up for grabs in the Bonus Round.
His disappointment was clear when he turned and exclaimed, “D**n!” The unexpected outburst prompted laughter from Seacrest and the studio audience.
Fans React to the Unfortunate Finish
Viewers discussing the episode on Reddit sympathized with Saunders after watching him miss the final answer.
“He was not happy about missing that puzzle,” one user wrote.
Another viewer found his reaction relatable, commenting, “Finally! Someone says what we’re all thinking we would have said! (Or worse,)”
Saunders’ near-miss made for a frustrating ending after he had successfully used the show’s new Hitting It Rich twist to seize the lead. His experience also left viewers with a final question: would they have figured out “Private Bash” before the clock ran out?
Wheel of Fortune airs on weekdays, with local listings determining broadcast times. Episodes are available to stream the following day on Hulu and Peacock.
Source: Compiled from various sources
